By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Last week, nearly 2,500 blue corduroy jackets flooded the streets of the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette during the 79th annual Indiana FFA State Convention June 16-19.
Throughout the three-day convention, Indiana FFA members from across the state participated in leadership workshops, competed in proficiency and Career Development Events, as well as attended motivating general sessions each featuring special presenters.
“With 2,300 members and guests registered, we had very good attendance this year and another great convention,” said 2007-2008 State President Geoffrey Miller.
The 2008 convention was highlighted by three keynote speakers including hypnotist Dr. Al Synder, American Countryside’s Andrew McCrea and Indiana’s own National FFA Officer Tyler Tenbarge.
One of the highlights for the 2008 convention was clearly the return visit of Tenbarge, the 2006-2007 state FFA president and Indiana’s first National FFA officer since 1999.
During Tenbarge’s keynote, he reflected on his experience as a National FFA officer and his memories shared as an Indiana FFA member.
Additionally, the reigning state officer team including Miller, Secretary Blake Stowers, Northern Region Vice President Rachel Demaree, Southern Region Vice President Kevin Cross, Treasurer Kaitlin Pence, Reporter Jill Riley and Sentinel Addison Lopp honored the 2008 class of Hoosier FFA Degree recipients. FFA members who have received his or her Greenhand Degree and Chapter Degree are eligible to receive the State Degree, given a series of other requirements are fulfilled.
This year, the theme of the state convention was Harvesting Success to Fuel the Future, as the state officer team entertained and educated FFA members from across the state of Indiana.
New state team Every year as the convention comes to a close the state officer team is prepared to induct a new slate of officers and reflect on their year of chapter visits, leadership events, contests as well as networking with some of the state’s most influential business and government leaders in agriculture.
For Miller, 2008 “has been a heck of a year.”
“I’ve met so many amazing people from across the state, it was an amazing experience and an opportunity to see why Indiana is such a leader in agriculture,” he added.
In Miller’s closing address, he encouraged his fellow FFA members to take advantage of new opportunities, “try new things because being involved in FFA prepares you to be successful,” in any endeavor.
As Saturday approached Miller prepared to induct a new slate of state officers to take the reigns of the Indiana FFA.
The new, 2008-2009 team includes President Laura Donaldson of the South Newton FFA; Secretary Emilie Kuhn, of Rushville FFA; Northern Vice President Laura Stockwell, of Prairie Heights FFA; Southern Region Vice President Kenny Schilling of Mt. Vernon; Treasurer Drake Babcock, of Tri-County; Reporter Ann Bechman, of Benton Central; and Sentinel Laney Kratz, of Prairie Heights.
“I always take full opportunity of serving the FFA Organization,” said newly elected President Donaldson, whose passion for FFA began in 8th grade when she made three goals: to learn more about FFA, win the state creed contest and become a state officer. “I completed two out of three of my goals.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the other six outstanding state officers and being able to best lead the Indiana FFA as a great, new team.”
As a next step, Donaldson said, the new team will attend a Blast Off session to “get to know each other better and create the kind of team that will best lead the state to success.”
The Indiana FFA Organization was established in 1929 and now serves more than 9,500 members. For more details, visit the Indiana FFA website at www.indianaffa.org |
